Improvement in washing-machines



H. 4G. ROBERTSON.

WASHING MACHINES.

HARVEQGQROBERTSON, 0F asnnvnilngnotrn..danemark j IMPROVEMENT INWASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 190,371, dated May 1,1877 application filed February 5, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARVEY G. ROBERT- SON, ofAsheville, in the county of Buncombe and State of North Carolina, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in WashingMachines, ofwhich the following is a specification This invention relates to a newand improved machine for washing and bleaching Y clothes, its objectbeing to provide an apparatus that, while subjecting the clothing to arubbing function, will at the same time force a current or currents ofair mixed with water through the same, and thus submit all portions tothe action of the water or cleansing agent, and eiectually cleanse theclothes from all grease and dirt.

The invention consists of a segmental rocker -frame, constructed of twoparallel side pieces, connected by an intermediate corrugated or lutedsection, the parallel sides having in their under edge a series of airspaces or recesses,and the frame, as constructed, being adapted to rockin a tub or tank, the air recesses or spaces and the intermediate lutedsection serving to collect and force currents of air and water throughthe material to be cleansed.

The invention also consists of certain other improvements, which will befully described hereinafter.

In the drawing, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical sectionalview of my invention; Fig. 2, a transverse vertical section, and Fig. 3a detached view of a portion of the rocker-frame.

In the drawing, the letter A represents a segmental rocker, constructedof wood, metal, or other suitable material, and provided on its lowerside with a series of chambers or recesses, which may be of anyconvenient number and shape, as may be desired.

The said rocker is composed of two parallel segmental side pieces, a c,united at the top by means of a cross-bar, al, and inclosing anintermediate corrugated segmental section,v

a?, of sheet or cast metal or wood', having a longitudinal partition,a3, running along its bottom, which divides the recesses into a numberof smaller recesses. The depressions in said section form theair-spaces, the curved or lower edges of said segmental side piecesbeing provided with a series of depressions, c, of any desired shape,which serve to increase the number of air-recesses, and thereby assistin the work to be done. To the cross-bar of the rocker is secured ahandle, B, by means of which it may be operated.

The letter C represents .a rectangular tub or tank, of such size thatthe rocker can be conveniently worked therein, and in said tub or tankis located a slotted false bottom, D, which is supported at the centerby means of a cross-piece, E, secured transversely across the bottom ofthe tank midway between its two ends. Said false bottom is reversible,and may be inverted, if desired, in the tub, in one position forming arocking bottom, and in the other a stationary slotted false bottom,which allows a free circulation of air and water through the clotheswhile the rocker is in operation.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood from the abovedescription.

The clothes being properly soaked and placed in the tub or tank upon thefalse bottom placed therein, a suicient quantity of water is then placedin the tub to just cover the clothes, and the rocker is then placed inthe tub, and a rocking or oscillating motion imparted to it by means ofthe handle. The depressions or recesses will collect air as the rockeroscillates, and force it intermittently with a current of water throughthe material, bringing every portion of the same into intimate contactwith the cleansing uid. The rocking bottom will tend to keep the clothesin a loose and open condition, which allows of the better penetrationand action of the Water, while the slots in the same allow of acontinuous current of air and water to be forced through the material.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The rocker-frame A, constructed of two parallel side pieces, havingin their under edge a series of air spaces or recesses, c o, and anintermediate fluted section, a2, the said making frame adapted tooperate in a tub or In testimony that'I claim the foregoing I tank,substantiallyas and for theV purpose dehave hereunto setm y hand in thepresence of scribed. l the ,subscribing witnesses.

2. In combination with the segmenta rock- Y er, provided with air-spaceson its under sdeh HARVEY G ROBERTSON' and the tank or tub in which saidrocker is Witnesses: operated, the removable slotted bottom, adapt- J.M. ALEXANDER, ed to operate substantially as described. F. S. H.REYNOLDS.

